Fire safety failures on construction sites across Great Britain fell by more than a third last year, but injury figures showed only marginal improvement, according to new data obtained from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Research by CE Safety, based on a Freedom of Information request to the HSE, found 361 recorded incidences of fire-related non-compliance on construction sites in 2024/25, down from 536 in 2023/24. The figures cover failures categorised as both “fire and explosion risk” and “general fire precautions.”
The fall represents a 37% year-on-year improvement in recorded fire safety failings. Enforcement action also reduced, with 50 notices issued by the HSE in 2024/25, compared with 92 the previous year.
However, the number of non-fatal injuries caused by exposure to fire or explosion remained broadly unchanged, falling from 15 in 2023/24 to 14 in 2024/25. The HSE figures also recorded two deaths following explosions on construction sites in 2024/25. The individuals were not workers, and no further details were provided.
In 2023/24, inspectors recorded 82 cases of non-compliance relating to fire and explosion risk and 454 relating to general fire precautions. In 2024/25, those figures fell to 48 and 313 respectively.
Of the 50 notices issued in 2024/25, 38 were improvement notices and 12 were immediate prohibition notices. In 2023/24, the HSE issued 63 improvement notices and 29 immediate prohibition notices.
The HSE enforces the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, which apply to projects ranging from domestic renovations to major commercial developments. Sites become notifiable to the regulator when work is scheduled to last more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers on site at any point, or when construction exceeds 500 person-days.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, dutyholders must manage fire risks throughout construction work, including hazards linked to hot works, live electrical systems, flammable substances and combustible materials.
The regional picture varied significantly. Looking at both categories of fire-related non-compliance in 2024/25, the South East recorded the highest number of breaches, with 61, followed by London with 57, Yorkshire with 41, the East with 40 and the North East with 35.
For fire and explosion risk alone, Scotland recorded the highest number of breaches in 2024/25, with 11. The South East followed with nine, ahead of the East and London, both on six, and the South West on five.
For general fire precautions, the South East again topped the list, with 52 breaches. London recorded 51, Yorkshire 37, and both the East and North East were among the areas with the highest levels of non-compliance.
CE Safety said the findings show that while standards appear to be improving, construction fire risks continue to require close attention from contractors, site managers and dutyholders.
“Guidelines in construction are in place for a reason,” said Gary Ellis, fire safety training specialist at CE Safety. “Hazards are endless and risks are ever-present, so it is a good thing that the HSE approaches fire safety violations seriously, because those who flout the rules are not, and this potentially comes with a high cost, either to buildings, projects or lives.
“The construction sector is a dynamic working environment, where continuous change is taking place and because of this, the fire risk is constantly evolving. Having strong fire safety principles in place, which are monitored and enforced on site, will reduce the risk of serious fires and explosion.”
Fire safety failures can lead to enforcement action, project delays, prosecution and significant financial penalties. One recent case saw a construction firm fined £165,000 after repeated failures during a warehouse renovation, including inadequate fire detection, poor planning and no effective means of raising the alarm.
CE Safety said basic controls remain central to compliance, including site-specific fire risk assessments, management of ignition sources, safe storage of flammable materials, suitable fire detection and alarm arrangements, firefighting equipment, clear escape routes, construction phase planning and fire awareness training for workers and visitors.
The company added that construction firms should follow HSE guidance in HSG 168: Fire Safety in Construction, as well as the Joint Code of Practice on the Protection from Fire of Construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation, published by the Fire Protection Association and the Association of British Insurers.